Remembering Your Suffering, Your Savior

I’ve been sick since last week and definitely ready to be done with this stuff. I figured this post from 2010 fit with what I’d like to say today. Be blessed!

I’ve been using the Chronological Bible for my daily readings this year, andI’m in Deuteronomy. To be honest, normally the most I get out of it is a sense of gratitude that Jesus paid the price of righteousness and that I am the humble recipient of grace.

Going through it this time, I kept noticing the phrase God would use as He gave certain commands. In essence I saw three parts, the first being, Remember that you were slaves in Egypt…

It struck me that we try a lot of different methods and means to remove the memory of our suffering. Even though we are out of that hardship and pain, we don’t want to think about many times. We don’t want to go back, nor should we.

The reality is there is a purpose in remembering, as I see it. ; It’s not that we feel the sting of it for the rest of our lives; we just recognize where we’ve come from.

After “Remember that you were slaves in Egypt” comes another key: and that the Lord brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm.

He’s the One who has performed mighty deeds on your behalf. The vessels and miracles may look different, but everyone who has believed Jesus is Lord was transported from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light. First through the Father’s love and Jesus’ sacrifice, and second through the obedience of others here on earth.

What He has done is amazing! He is saying, “remember the wretched state you were in and that I pulled you out and rescued you.” This keeps us humble, keeps us worshipping. When we forget the things we’ve been through and how God has been constant and faithful, we get into messes as we head into self-sufficiency at which point God resists us (according to His word).

The last part of the equation comes in different forms, but essentially says, so let this truth inform the way you live your life. Whether it’s keeping the Sabbath day of rest, taking care of widows and orphans, displaying kindness–God says our suffering and His rescue “is why I give you this command today.”

It’s not that there are strings attached, but when we recognize where we’ve been and where He’s brought us, there’s such an overwhelming gratitude that fills us. His word becomes our delight. Obedience is joy and the pleasure of sin pales in comparison.

But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. –Romans 6:22

It’s not condemnation to remember our former slavery to sin, but it’s liberation when we consider the gift of God. What we reap from our thankfulness is a life of holiness. We take care of others because of what He’s done for us. We choose not to judge others because He has forgiven us.

Will you meditate with me today? Not just on suffering, but on the work of God. As we remember, let it spur us on to put faith in action.

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Most people would never recognize this but the 14 blessings that are in Deuteronomy 28 and the Sermon on the mount are the same thing !

Deuteronomy 28: 1-14 (New American Standard Bible)
28 “Now it shall be, if you diligently [a]obey the Lord your God, being careful to do all His commandments which I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. 2 All these blessings will come upon you and overtake you if you [b]obey the Lord your God:

3 “Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the [c]country.

4 “Blessed shall be the [d]offspring of your [e]body and the [f]produce of your ground and the [g]offspring of your beasts, the increase of your herd and the young of your flock.

5 “Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl.

6 “Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out.

7 “The Lord shall cause your enemies who rise up against you to be [h]defeated before you; they will come out against you one way and will flee before you seven ways. 8 The Lord will command the blessing upon you in your barns and in all that you put your hand to, and He will bless you in the land which the Lord your God gives you. 9 The Lord will establish you as a holy people to Himself, as He swore to you, if you keep the commandments of the Lord your God and walk in His ways. 10 So all the peoples of the earth will see that [i]you are called by the name of the Lord, and they will be afraid of you. 11 The Lord will make you abound in prosperity, in the [j]offspring of your [k]body and in the [l]offspring of your beast and in the [m]produce of your ground, in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers to give you. 12 The Lord will open for you His good storehouse, the heavens, to give rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hand; and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. 13 The Lord will make you the head and not the tail, and you only will be above, and you will not be underneath, if you listen to the commandments of the Lord your God, which I charge you today, to [n]observe them carefully, 14 and do not turn aside from any of the words which I command you today, to the right or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.

Matthew 5:3-12 (New Living Translation)
3 “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him,[a]
for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
4 God blesses those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 God blesses those who are humble,
for they will inherit the whole earth.
6 God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice,[b]
for they will be satisfied.
7 God blesses those who are merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8 God blesses those whose hearts are pure,
for they will see God.
9 God blesses those who work for peace,
for they will be called the children of God.
10 God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right,
for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

11 “God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you[c] and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. 12 Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.

There the same blessings you receive but this time unlike The Law of Moses where its human effort we have the help of the Jesus & The Holy Spirit.andrew singh recently posted..Christmas-Winterland Photo Extravaganza

Yes, the old covenant and what God spoke was a type and shadow of the better covenant with better promises to come through Jesus (Hebrews 8:6). That’s why these are the best days in the history of the earth! We don’t want to go back--we want to launch forward by His grace! Thanks Andrew.

It fascinates me to read where we were just before the Exodus and where we ended up after God sent His servant Moses. Flash forward to the appearance of the Messiah and we are there once again. Flash forward to today, and it seems we are repeating history again and again.

On one hand I am always thinking: “Will we ever get it?” but on the other hand I praise God that He gets us!

I’m feeling much better today, Floyd. I think it’s been a sinus infection that has got me. So weird, but it knocked me for a loop! And yes, we can be reminded of where we’ve come from because there is no power in it now. We are His and we glory in His life and presence! Thank you.

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About Me

I believe in the value of others in this journey of life and faith, and I want to connect with other people, connect others in real ways, and connect everyone I come across to Him. I have a beautiful wife, Andrea, and four wonderful children (and we are also a foster family). I was formerly lead pastor of Breakthrough Church in Juneau, AK, but now live in Oklahoma working with Family of Faith College in developing a worship pastor degree program. I also run a website development company called Spark2Flame where I help others reach their full potential online.